A VIEW to education

FOR eight years the ladies of the Kiama Evening VIEW Club have supported a student named Jordan through the Smith Family's Learning for Life program.

The club gets several letters from Jordan, who is now in high school, to which they reply.

They may not know Jordan's surname or where he lives, but they are playing an instrumental part in the boy's education.

Learning for Life supports disadvantaged children and young people from pre- and primary school through to high school and university, if the child chooses.

The money that VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) clubs around Australia, including Kiama, provides helps fund Learning for Life workers, literacy and mentoring programs, and essential education items.

Recently the Kiama Evening Club made a further commitment to Learning for Life, taking on a second student, six-year-old Cody.

Club president Leonie Bishop said it was rewarding for the members to know that their assistance meant that students weren't missing out.

"It just feels lovely to know that the students are not being affected because they can't do the same things as the other kids, like have the proper school uniform and go on excursions, things like that," she said.

"Learning for Life just gives them the chance to be a normal kid like the rest of them."

Mrs Bishop said anyone could sponsor a child through Learning for Life.

"It is just a wonderful thing," she said. "We get letters from Jordan. He tells us what he does and doesn't like at school. He tells us that he likes drawing but doesn't like maths, that kind of thing."

The Kiama Evening VIEW Club was founded in 1968 and has 45 members.

VIEW clubs provide support and friendship for women nationally and actively raise awareness of and participate in the work of the Smith Family.

Kiama VIEW meets at the Kiama Leagues Club on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 6.30pm.

For information about the group, phone Betty Muller on 4237 7770. To sponsor a child through Leaning for Life, visit www.smithfamily.com.au.